Kevin McDonald
is ready for his first start in a Wolverhampton Wanderers
shirt, says boss Kenny Jackett.
The midfielder was a three minute substitute at Bristol City but comes into contention for Friday’s League clash with Crawley.
“I think he’s ready,” said Jackett who nevertheless has been impressed with the central combination of David Davis and Lee Evans.
“He’s ready to play but the other side of it is the same team has just won back-to-back games.
“You can keep the same side but it’s also about keeping the pressure on those players.
“Sometimes when you sign a player or someone comes back from injury, the fact they’re on the shoulder of the player who has the shirt is the motivation which can produce good performances resulting in good teams.
“Every game is different. But I do want to settle the side down as much as I can after all the changes.
“At least with the last couple of games there have been signs of being able to do that.
“If Kevin comes into the team and I think it’s tactically right to do that then fine.
“Whoever I pick, competition is important but Kevin is a very good addition for us.
“He has the potential to play behind the striker and sometimes a third man in midfield is tactically necessary as well.
“He’s a very good addition to the squad and you can’t have enough good players.”
Jackett conceded that experience is going to be key to a young Wolves midfield.
“If you look at last season’s midfield, Davis played a number of games but it was always with a senior player or sometimes two, be it Karl Henry, Jamie O’Hara and sometimes Tongo Doumbia in there as well,” he said.
“So the midfield has changed a lot with Lee Evans in there and Jack Price coming on against Gillingham.”
25-year-old Hogan Ephraim has joined on trial from QPR. Wolves will make a decision over offering the winger/attacking midfielder a contract later in the week.